Planning a multi-generational Trip! Help me decide on a resort.

[kimmar067]

Hi everyone! My mom has decided to gift our family a week long trip in March 2023. I am helping her plan it and figure out what is best for everyone. Our family rarely takes big trips all together so this is a big deal to her. We are trying to give everyone the best experience....

...does your mom wanna adopt a 64-year-old 'kid'?

 

[kimmar067]

Here are the details…

8 people total. My parents (60), myself and DH (30s), our kids (8 & 2.5), my sister and her husband (20’s).....Right now we are looking at SSR and AKL.....AKL: we like the food better here and feel like it’s a more unique experience. No one else in my family has seen this resort and i think the would like the lobby. Also the fact it has interior hallways. My mom does like that the grandkids would like this resort better. Jambo house or Kidani? I like the 2 bedroom layout in Kidani but the resort better at Jambo....

We stayed in a 3BR Grand Villa at AKL back in October and it was WONDERFUL! You may want to consider renting DVC points for that....

 

[niclodn]

We stayed at both resorts (plus BCV) a few weeks ago for our multi-generational trip - parents (70's and in ECV's), me (49), niece (30) and great nieces (6 & 10). Here's my take based on our trip:

SSR: We were in the Paddock section right next to the pool - which was rarely crowded, we were always able to find chairs. This location was perfect as the bus stop (#3 of 5?) was at the pool and there was also a grill that served breakfast and lunch/dinner items. We did have to split up once due to there only be one ECV spot on the first bus. Otherwise, everything about it was great - refurbed rooms were awesome, beds comfy, plenty of room for everyone. We did find that it was easier to walk to Springs than to take the boat. It seemed like the walk to the boat dock was just as far as walking directly to Springs and had to ask several CM's before we found someone who actually knew where it was for some reason. Room was great for our group - parents in the master, me and niece in the 2nd bedroom, kids on the murphy beds. There was room for both ECV's to be parked in the room, but during the day we left them outside by the door.

AKL (we were in Jambo): Great views and overall lovely hotel; however, the pool was always crowded (imo, it is too small for the size of the resort) and, due to shrubbery/fence/layout, a lot of the chairs do not have a view of the actual pool - this was an issue for us, as we wanted to be able to keep an eye on the kids. My biggest con was that the Mara is a hike depending on where your room is. We also rarely had any animals near our balcony during the day - none until about 10-11am. The evenings seem to have more, but we weren't in the room until after dark most nights. Distance to the parks via bus is similar to SSR.

I think either resort will be great for your family, but if I were to do it again, I would probably pick SSR as I felt we enjoyed our "resort time" more there. This was our first time there and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it.